Fishtail Air shortly adding AS 350 B3+ Helicopter

March 1, 2017-KATHMANDU

After losing two aircraft AS 350 B3+ and AS 350 B2 model registered as (9N-AJI) and (9N-AKA) in accidents last year Fishtail were compelled conduct fleet with its two limited aircrafts. One of the leading helicopter operators in Nepal, Fishtail Air is shortly adding an AS 350 B+ aircraft to its fleet within couple of weeks. The additional helicopter will arrive Kathmandu via roadway.

Fishtail Air has already signed the purchase contract with TARMAC AVIATION SA of Switzerland for purchasing maintained AS 350 B+ helicopter months earlier. Fishtail Air, Nepali heli operator has also made a MOU agreement with Bell Helicopters, Textron Company on behalf of Simrik Helitrade for bringing two new Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters under their fleet expansion plan, on 07 October 2016.

The AS 350 B3+ Helicopter is manufactured by Airbus and is a maintained aircraft operated for 2000 flying hours. Currently, the aircraft is in Switzerland and will arrive Calcutta, India on 7th of March. The aircraft’s parts including fuselage, tail-boom will be dismantled into a container and will be transported to Nepal from Calcutta after its arrival in India.

According to the officials from Fishtail Air, the aircraft cargo will arrive to Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal on second week of March. The aircraft will be reassembled at Tribhuvan International Airport by the engineering team after its arrival. As the helicopter’s registration paperwork is on final stage. After the completion of the paperwork’s and registration the company is working ahead to commence the operation from the helicopter as early as possible.

The AS 350 B3+ is powered by a 2B1 engine and is well known for its capacity to fly at high altitude (23,000 feet AMSL) all over the world. The chopper has also proved its capability in Nepal especially in mountain regions. It holds 6 seats capacity excluding pilot and operates flawlessly during the Aerial Sightseeing, Mountain Flights, Rescue Evacuation, Corporate Charter, Sling Operations, High altitude operations and other special adventure missions.

After the addition of AS 350 B3+ Helicopter, Fishtail Air’s fleet will be extended to three helicopters with one Bell-206 (9N-AII), AS 350 B3e (9N-AJQ).

Recently, Simrik Air had also added one AS 350 B2 and one Bell 407 GXP helicopter in its fleet.